New 2.4 MBP Setup.

I just rec'd a new MBP 2.4 and the first thing I did was put in 4 gigs of RAM (bought from Crucial) to replace the standard 2 gigs and replaced the 160 gig 5400 hard drive with a 250 gig 5400 hard drive.

I plan to run both XP and Vista in Parallels so I need as much hard drive space as I can get and currently, the 250 gig hard drive is the biggest I could find.

Everything went smooth as glass. I followed the instructions on www.ifixit.com's website to replace the hard drive. The only tricky part is finding the T6 torque screw allen wrench. I got one with a hard drive I had ordered for my previous MBP from MCE (I think).

On this MBP it was a lot easier to remove the screws because I don't think they had much time to "set". Some of them actually felt loose.

Installed OS X without issue and then installed Parallels (ver 2 something) and that's when I ran into issues... Actually, it was trying to update my copy of XP to SP2. It kept generating errors and I finally got a message that said that my version of XP was unstable. (I thought they all were?)

So I deleted my XP vm and created it again, but first I updated my copy of Parallels to the latest version prior to v3.0. Everything seemed to go fine until I once again tried to install SP2 of XP. After failing once, I decided to download it directly, then install it. That worked. I did this by downloading the link for updating multiple computers.

I'm now copy all my data from my old MBP. So far, so good.

After that, I will install v3.0 of Parallels and then install Vista.

Questions... If you start up your XP vm and your Vista vm at the same time, can they see each other in a workgroup network? Just wondering if I'll be able to copy from one vm to the other?

 

Let me get this straight - you are trying to run Windows on a Mac??? Why? Your not meant to do this.

The OS might not support 4GB as well - it will probably only be using about 3GB of this tops.

Also, if you want to network Vista, it's a totally different operating system.

Any questions - would love to hear from you.

 

So why did you get a MBP if not to run OSX at least half the time?

 

Yes I agree. You'd have been better off getting a T61 or Clevo.

 

Because the MBPs got a competitive hardware spec and design.

 

People need to run Windows for all sorts of reasons. I doubt the OP is a big fan of Windows since he has a previous Macbook Pro and made the comment that all Windows was unstable. Also, while Tiger likely only supports 3GB since it's a 32-bit OS, Leopard comes out in October and is the first fully integrated 64-bit OS and will support large amounts of RAM.

As to the question, I would imagine that as long as each version of Windows has its own IP address, you could create LAN or workgroup for them to share files.

 

oh really... i haven't noticed... maybe it's the inflated price, the heat problems...

i was reading an article the other day about 1920x1200 17' panel on the new santa rosa MBP... well... what can i say... IT'S ABOUT TIME...

 

No need to be a troll. Especially with a student discount, the MBP is a great deal with a high end Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, a DVD Burner, integrated webcam, wireless N, Bluetooth, and one of the best builds in the industry. It's even less than I paid for my Dell Precision M90. You want to talk inflated prices, look at a Sony or a Dell XPS. Also, I believe the heat problems were cleared up with the 2nd gen Macbook Pro.

 

Set up networking as NAT - forgot where exactly is the option at Parallels, but you should find it quite easily. Assign different IPs to each VM and you are set.

 

I have windows xp running in parallels on my new 2.2GHz MacBook Pro with 2GB of ram. I work for my school and set up a mac lab last summer when boot camp had just came out. I experienced almost every issue I could think of but I know one issue was the XP CD's had to be SP2 to work Mac, BootCamp, And parallels do not like SP1 Disks.

Also in a side note/comment why did you go for the size rather than speed for running XP I am planning on upgrading my MacBook Pro from a 120GB 5400 to a 160GB 7200. I have a WD hard drive that is 120GB and only runs off USB no power (very nice and useful). WD just came out with the 250GB version of this which i am also planning on getting. I think it is better to have a faster computer than more capacity since this can be obtained by a small external hard drive.

Also just so you know using parallels is slow and cannot take full advantages of your laptop. I would install BootCamp and partition it into your hard drive it will be nicer if you need to use programs that use more resources such as graphics and other stuff since the max you can give via parallels for most resources is half or 2/3 you can't let parallels use most or all resources temporarily this is only an issue if you are trying to do anything slightly intensive.

hope this helped.

 

Guys, stop trolling, there are plenty of reasons to run Windows on MBP. First of all, MBP has the best spec list compared to other Intel machines, and the price is a bit high but ok overall (it's actually decent with student/work discount).

This is a big deal. Find a notebook with 8600GT, fast CPU, in 1" thickness frame with LED backlight and 4+ hours of battery life. No, Sony or Lenovo won't cut it since Sony decided to roll with 8400 series and Lenovo is putting in NV140 I believe in the T61P, which is a higher-clocked 8400. HP 8500 series may give Apple a run with ATI 2600 graphics, but that's as close as it is going to get (price will be similar). Sony SZ (not FZ) series is more portable, but hasn't been upgraded to SR in the States yet, and will only have 8400 video card.

Having OSX as an option is also great, it's a very interesting OS and Leopard is going to make it even better. Plus, Windows network support for Macs is improving, so they are becoming more acceptable for corp environment (btw, another reason to run Windows on MBP ).

Second, Windows is NOT unstable. I love the trolling, but I've run XP for many many years at home and supported it at work. XP SP2 is stable as hell, as long as you don't do stupid ****, i.e. going to pr0n sites and clicking everywhere in IE. Notice, I said XP SP2 is stable, not IE or software/drivers you may run. Vista is fairly stable, problem at this point is that the driver support is raw. I am guessing SP1 time-frame this fall/winter is when Vista will be ready for real prime-time appearance.

Windows Server 2003 is even more stable, and I love being able to run it in VM on (doing it right now on a much crappier notebook) for demo/dev purposes. That said, VMWare Fusion is probably going to turn out better in the long run as opposed to Parallels, since you can share images between ESX, Server, Workstation, Ace, Player and Fusion. You can also convert MS Virtual Server virtual drives to VMWare format. If you work in corp. IT environment, those are very useful features.

Third, even if you like OSX, there is a ton of software that is simply not available outside Windows world. This goes double (triple, quadruple) for business software. Good luck finding true business apps beyond creative environment. So, there is absolutely a valid need to run Windows (I won't even go into gaming) on MBP.

Personally, I haven't bought MBP yet because of all the reported stability problems. Pick one:

1. Kernel panic while connecting to WPA protected networks.
2. Overheating due to various reasons, including globs of thermal paste slopped all over GPU and CPU.
3. Bad quality screens with 1/3 lower part of the screen in yellowish hues. Also, look at glossy screens, they are just terrible if viewed at any angle but straight up. Then go to Best Buy and look at a Vaio screen.
4. Uneven lead closing/warping.

Personally, 1-3 is making me hesitate on the purchase. I am playing a waiting game right now and trying to decide if it's worth dealing with Lenovo (who had their own share of issues lately), wait for HP 8500 series, or say f to on the road gaming and wait for the new SZ series from Sony to get out.

Anyway, that's my $.02. I design/implement server and messaging infrastructures for a living, been in IT for 10+ years, and know a thing or two about stability/support.

 

that was more like $.01

 

I agree that windows can be useful thats why I have it installed on my desktop pc and on parallels on my MBP. (I will be installing it via bootcamp when I get my new hard drive).

I don't agree that Vista is stable I believe M$ released it too soon I know that drivers can make stuff unstable but what are you going to do with a OS without drivers you need the drivers to work with your OS thats why vista is unstable M$ was more interested in making a profit than a product.

XP is stable and I personally have been using it since it came out. I do think however it is far from the only option. Also I disagree about your statement of some software only being available on Windows. There are a bunch of programs out there that let you run .exe files in OSX so you don't have to install Windows not that there's anything wrong with that!

My coworkers always make fun of me because I am a mac guy but when ever anything mac related comes in i'm the first one they turn to. I'm not that new to mac I got a Mac Mini pre-intel and I last week got a new MBP. I love macs and I love my MBP I have had no issues just questions. I think that you shouldn't complain you should mod. If you don't like something about your stuff just change it to make you happy. don't dis stuff just because you're not used to it or hear rumors or notice something annoying just change it.

 

I have a MBP as well and I will start by saying that some of the concerns people are having on this forum about people putting Windows on the Mac are valid. Now Apple designed all the Intel Macs with this option but the OP wants to install 2 different versions of Windows and he's asking about network support between the 2 versions. He's not even asking about OS X help.
I noticed that many new "switchers" are not true switchers. They buy the Mac and try to turn it into a Windows PC just because the specs on the Mac are good. Some of them want to completely remove OS X. Dude, it's a Mac.

Then you put, "having OS X an option is also great"? OS X is not an "option", it's the default OS that is also specifically designed for the Mac hardware. The ability to install and run Windows is an option.

A Mac is not a Windows PC. The keyboard and trackpad are made for the Mac OS.
Now, to each his own, but many of the so-called switchers are asking for Windows troubleshooting support on the Mac forum. That's the issue some of the Mac users on the forum are having. If you are going to buy a Mac use it as a Mac. That's BS that there is hardly any business software on the Mac. You have never looked. Just because there's a lot on the Windows side doesn't mean you are forced to use Windows.
The reason for less software is because of the low install base. If Windows users are just gonna buy the Mac and primarily use Windows then developers will not make software for the Mac.
My partners and I all made the switch a long while ago and we run our complete insurance firm on Mac OS X.
Lastly, I don't know where you got that info about all those things wrong with the MBP. The only concern that I will even admit is the uneven lid. It's been like that for years since the first aluminum PowerBooks. Unfortunately Apple will not rectify it. Not every model ships like that from the factory.

 

lol, what gives you the right to tell people what they can discuss on an open public forum? Any question relating to the macbook should be welcome in this subforum whether they choose to use Windows or OS X

 

What gives you the right to judge me? Posters were asking why people were trolling in regards to the Windows users installing Windows on the MBP and nearly abandoning Mac OS X on a "Mac" computer. I was replying as to WHY they were trolling. And FYI, the moderator already moved a post back to the Windows forum in regards to someone asking about anti-virus software for the Windows side of their MBP. You don't need to be rude.

 

Sorry for the delayed response, but duty calls...

The hard drive swap out went as expected... perfectly. I did have some trouble with Parallels, but after I upgraded to the current version v2.5, everything worked perfectly.

Someone asked why I didn't purchase a T61... I've got a T61. I'm not happy with Lenovo's implementation of Vista (as in driver issues).

With regards to why buy a MBP to run Windows. It's about the hardware! I think the MBP has the brightest, clearest, LCD in the 15.4" form factor and it's also the lightest weight. Since my laptop is more or less glued to my hip and used in the office, at home, on the road, at the coffee shop, at the park, etc., then weight and size is extremely important to me.

Money was not an issue, but quality of build and aesthetics are extremely important to me.

 

I think I need to clarify my post since there are a lot of people who responded regarding the viability of using a Mac as a Windows PC.

First, even Apple offers this as an alternative via Bootcamp because they understand that they can get a lot more "switchers" if they don't have to use two computers (one for OS X and one for Windows).

I'm very much in this boat. I've grown accustomed to the OS X native apps and the reliability of the OS. However, I'm a Windows developer and need to continue to make a living by developing Windows apps. Sorry, there just aren't enough people asking for my business apps on a Mac to develop for the Mac... yet.

At the same time, I can see a lot of momentum building on the Mac side and figured I might as well test the waters and gets some hands on time just in case I need to develop for the Mac somewhere down the road.

I did this starting last year (October, 2006). Well, a funny thing happened. I really like the Mac from a hardware perspective. The OS was good too. Especially the reliability. Good, not perfect.

So when I discovered that I could run Windows via Parallels I decided that having one laptop was better than having two. Trust me, it is. So I installed Parallels and then installed WinXP. Suddenly, I discovered another wonderful thing. Windows in Parallels is better than Windows on PC. Yes, that's my opinion and if you need specifics ask, but I've found a number of side benefits from this setup that are more than offset by whatever speed loss I might incur.

So now I need to run Vista and XP. Vista for testing purposes and because it's the future for Windows, and XP for reliability and compatibility because there are still some apps that I have that won't run in Vista. Take Ulead's PhotoExplorer. I've used it for many years and it's a great photo viewer and simple photo editor. Runs in XP but not in Vista. Even though I use iPhoto exclusively for photo management, I will occasionally need to look at some photos on the Windows side. For now, I have to do it in XP because that's the only OS that will run PhotoExplorer.

I really thought that Lenovo's T61 with Vista was what might bring me back to a Windows laptop, but I bought one and used it for a month. Many, many issues including bluescreens that made the laptop unreliable for mission critical work. Guess what... it's sitting on a shelf gathering dust while I am now using my Santa Rose MBP 24/7. Anyone want a T61 cheap?

Unless you have the same kind of demands for computing that I have, you may not completely understand why I need to run XP and Vista, and why I think the Mac and OS X provide the best alternative for me. I've tried to convince some other people in the office to do what I've done, in fact, I bought everyone a Macbook just so they could experience the difference between OS X and Windows. To date, most of them are using it for surfing and that's about it. My son and I are using Macs exclusively, but we're kind of early adopters / cutting edge type people.

I'd be happy to answer questions if anyone's got any.

Someone asked why I went with the 250 gig hard drive at 5400RPM instead of the 160gig at 7200RPM. Size matters! In this case, more than the microseconds that it might save me. I want to leave 100gig for OS X because I do intend to keep learning and using it more. The rest will be split between XP and Vista vm's in Parallels. Eventually, I'll probably get rid of the XP vm, but that will probably be a year or two. Definitely won't be before SP1 for Vista ships.

Anyone who thinks there are problems running Windows on a Mac (especially in Parallels) needs to try it before they sound off. A MBP is the BEST Windows PC I've ever used.

 

i know im late on this. but i just can't help myself:

you appear to be off to a good start. you have seemingly identified the OP's concern correctly. but then...

nooo!!!!... you lost it. while your premise is correct (it is in fact an apple branded macintosh computer), why should that stop ANYONE from buying it with the intention of running windows if it can be done? If you value the quality build and the top shelf internal specs, and you want to run windows, i think that is a very valid reason to buy a macbook pro. "Just because the specs on the Mac are good" is a really strong allure. Do you not see that?

This is somewhat true- but you can set either OS as the default. Having a choice is more about the mentality of the person deciding than anything else. That is why YOU see Windows as an option, where as someone who plans on primarily running windows sees OS X as an option.

True- a Mac is NOT a Windows PC. But by the same token, NO PC IS A WINDOWS PC. Any intel computer has no special affinity for either windows, unix, linux, etc. They all run natively.

Or, looking at it from a different angle- you could say that "having windows installed on the computer makes it a windows pc" - in which case the mac IS a windows pc once you install windows... how else can you read into that statement? you have to pick a method of defining a windows pc to make that clarification.

Windows troubleshooting has a place within the mac forum if it is related to apple supplied drivers or apple software, or somehow involves os x interoperability or anything related to boot camp or EFI or bios.

while you do have the ability to tell someone that "if you are going to buy a Mac, use it as a mac" - thank GOD you have no way of enforcing it.

and of course, you completely missed the question. he was asking about virtual machine running within osx...

im not interested in business software- so no comment. i agree that there is a wide variety of software available for os x.

....

are you now complaining about software support? you JUST SAID that there was plenty of software available for mac. you EVEN IMPLIED that the OP wasn't smart enough to look for it on his own by typing "google.com" and hitting enter.

Also- developers not making software for mac has nothing to do with windows users buying macs. imagine the alternative- what if windows users coudn't buy macs? the devs wouldn't suddenly have a larger install base within osx. i hope you see why without any further explanation. windows users buying macs can ONLY INCREASE the osx user base. it CANNOT and WILL NOT decrease it. in fact- a lot of windows users will get exposure to osx and stick with it. many others will use osx primarily and keep windows for either gaming or that "one program that doesn't run in osx" - and would not have been able to do that without that one tie to windows.

While I don't see how that could possibly be a wise business decision. mac's are obviously more expensive than windows pc's. they are good if you are a visual or audio artist. but for an insurance firm? budget pc sounds like a better choice imo. i wish you luck on your business regardless of me tearing apart the rest of your post.

Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.

Similarly- your ignorance of MBP problems doesn't correlate to whether or not those problems are there. Personally, mine came out very well. The lid actually might be slightly off, but its not enough that its something i need to worry about.

 

What happened to answering the OP's question? It had nothing to do with the merits of running Windows on a Mac. In the future, please stick to the questions asked by the OP. It seems it was answered, if not please post a new topic, this one is closed.